Moments in life come when all I want to do is respond with the first emotion that shoots through my head. It is hard to restrain myself from saying the first thing that comes to mind. Patience takes great fostering and care when it comes to being calm and collected.
I have run into so many situations lately where I forgot patience and "winged it". I ran on my own intuition and came up with ridiculous reactions to simple situations. There are times when not just me, but all of us think that we are on top of everything.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
I have been watching all of these "subject matter experts" on television who spew their opinion into our living rooms, work spaces, gyms, and anywhere else we try to catch the news. They bring emotion and an unbridled opinion regarding various topics to which they were chosen to speak toward. Watching a majority of them and how viewers respond to some of the banter speaks volumes of how emotion is engrained in us. It is a part of our existence and makes up the very fabric of our behavior. The very presence, or lack there of, weighs heavily on the choices that are made every day. I would definitely say that less is more in this case. Less emotion is more control over a calculated answer, or maybe a reaction to some thing.
It is very evident to me that God has a grip on my life and gives subtle hints when I am following a path from where He intends me to be. I am not perfect, and I know some day I will be having this talk again of how I could have acted better in a particular situation. This part of the reconciliation; the knowledge of right and wrong is something inherent in all of us. The difference-when you know somebody else has a higher path for you to walk, and you take it.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. -Matthew 7:13-14
The advent, a countdown to the "coming" of Jesus Christ. Today is the first day of the advent, and also the basis behind the message at our church today. The advent now signifies the countdown to Christmas, a holiday known throughout most of the world. With so many holidays that are celebrated over the globe, this one day has become the most recognized and most celebrated. Why shouldn't it be so popular though?! For all of those English majors out there, I was referring to Christmas.
Companies of both foreign and American origin have worked very hard to ensure that commercialism rides the proverbial coat tails of such a popular holiday. I am not opposed to blessing others with gifts on Christmas Day. However, my fear is that the moral and ethical compass of society becomes even more skewed year after year because of the expectation of a gift. Not just any gift either! What ends up under, or near that tree, most often decides our mood for the day; a fact small children can't hide, and one that adults are embarrassed to admit. There is the small percentage out there content with what Christmas morning will always fail to bring when materialistic motives makes up the core of our nature, love.
The advent is the countdown to an awesome event, the birth of Jesus Christ. I am ending tonight with a glimpse into someone who had love for all mankind. The verses below speak about Jesus' sacrifice, and were written long before he was ever born. He expected no gifts, yet gave himself for all mankind.
Isaiah 53:2-6
For he grew up before him like a young plant,and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men;a man of sorrows,and acquainted withgrief; and as one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.
Going to the store lately brings incredible memories for my son and I. Most of the time it ends up turning into a match of wits to see who will triumph when the age old question is asked, "Dad, can I get this?" Bri and I are convinced that he will be either an awesome used car salesman, or a great attorney when he grows up. He mirrors other children with their insatiable need for "the next best thing".
Today was one for the history books. My son legitimately got in trouble for, surprise surprise, being mean to his sister. When I attempted to intervene with some fatherly justice, I was met with a tactic he has never employed before. Apparently my son felt that if he could run the approximate distance he figured I wouldn't yell for him across the store due to my own embarrassment, then he would be safe. I have to give it to the little tike, the stand off was intense. I soon found his weak spot though, my legs worked and I didn't want to be there anymore! I started walking away and he followed right after. This story has almost nothing to do with my point, but it sounded good anyway.
Tying all this together is the fact that sometimes parents, mentors, authority figures and the Big Man upstairs all employ various techniques to teach important character qualities. Today's lesson was about being humble. With Christmas coming up there is an even greater desire to want "everything". I also have to tell myself at times that I don't have to have this new thing, or that new thing. It took a long time for me to realize that certain bad behaviors don't just go away when you stop being a kid. Being humble in any moment requires constant effort. Do I fail from time to time, yes! I'll never quit trying with me, and I sure won't quit on my son.
1 Peter 5:5-7
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I was one of the very few people to actually work in Washington DC today. This was very evident by the obvious absence of bumper to bumper traffic as I cruised along on the freeway. While heading in to work I also showed courage in the face of danger. My old arch nemesis and I were once again toe to toe as we meet every holiday season. That's right, Christmas music- my age old foe! I am not a fan of the stuff, but today I made an exception. I threw on "rockin around the Xmas tree", and held on tightly to the steering wheel for my trip into the city.
Although I make it out to be terrible, I do find some solace from Christmas music. Most often the songs carry a message we should all take to heart the entire year, rather than focus on peace and merriment with each other for approximately one month. Tonight I am lying in bed and wondering what if... What if we took responsibility for our own actions? What if we were all blind to each other's differences and just freely gave mercy and grace, rather than harboring it like valuables in a safe.
The holidays bring all kinds of incredible messages. I saw a message posted on Facebook today with a picture of Billy Graham. He is a man full of passion, but his passion comes from somewhere other than vein self accomplishment. I enclosed his message below, and I wish everyone an outstanding weekend.
Thanksgiving was pretty good as it was the first one without relatives. Although I enjoyed creating memories, I miss having family around to share them with. Our ventures throughout the day brought us to a quiet ending. Bri headed out to snag some pre-black Friday deals, and I stayed with the kids at home. While contemplating which movie to finish the day with, I figured I would rather read a story than get lost in front of a screen.
The kids and I sat down and shared a story about the Israelites and their time in the wilderness (desert). The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert and survived quite well because of a wafer type food called, manna. Although the people of Israel doubted God, He always provided for them. They came to Him imperfect and with broken faith, and yet God took them back each time. To feed the Israelites in the desert, God provided manna each day. What this item actually is means very little. It's what it signified, and this is what I was trying to press home to my children. Faith can move mountains. That same faith is also important because God will always provide for us. It may not always be the way we want it, i.e. televisions, cars, popularity, success...but He will be there.
I could sit here and write for a while, but I usually have nothing of substance to ramble about. Let's cut through the fluff and I will end on a verse I shared with my kids tonight. My hope is that everyone had a good Thanksgiving...
1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
Today I woke up to start another day for which you have blessed me with. Every breath is a gift from you that I often take for granted, however, I pray for humility to appreciate the very steps I take each day.
I opened my eyes to a roof over my head, and felt the warmth of shelter in my midst. A turned over to my left, and through a bundle of blankets I saw my wife whom you brought into my life. Her smile warms my heart every moment of the day. I walked out of our room and quiet snores and rustling of blankets emanated from two rooms near the stairs. These noises are from the two beautiful children you saw fit for us to raise. I hear their breathing, and sometimes see their gentle faces as I leave for work each morning. They are the future of our family, and also a great responsibility which requires our constant effort. Although they frustrate me from time to time, I learn from as much as they learn from me.
A few steps downstairs and I was peering out of our windows. Our neighborhood experiences peace and safety, and this morning was no different. The call of several birds is the only noise breaking the cold Fall air this morning. I continued into the kitchen past the refrigerator packed full of food for this Thanksgiving Day. For that matter, we never wonder where our next meal will come from. Reaching into the cupboard I grab some vitamins and head into the dining room. I often fail to recognize the money you afford me to buy vitamins, medicine, and other items to keep me healthy and combat sickness.
I finally came to rest in the chair at the head of our dining room table. There have been so many mornings in which I performed the same ritual, however, this morning I had a moment of clarity. I glanced around and took note of this day and how incredibly blessed I am. One might think that it is because of the people and "stuff" I have mentioned. No, it is your grace and mercy for which I am eternally grateful on this morning. You sent your son to die on a cross for my sins so that I may live my life knowing I have a place in heaven. All you ask for is faith like a child, and to make you the focal point of my life. I will always be thankful for you.
Amen
Mark 22:34-39
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
Today was pretty incredible as we received the first snow of the season here in the Capitol area. Although being at the office was the order of the day, I rather enjoyed my time. It is a rather humbling feeling when I have the opportunity to work with someone in a specific discipline who knows more than I do. I spent the last couple of days instructing, and learning from my partner at the same time. It is refreshing to accept my slice of humble pie and open my mind to new things. I started off the class thinking how high and mighty I was as the senior instructor, however, the tables soon turned as my partner started filling in several gaps which my curriculum apparently failed to address. All I could do was get on my knees and chant, "I'm not worthy...", by the time the day was over.
Somehow it seems like falling into the "love me" trap is so easy these days with all the talk of making everything fair and equal. The paradigm of society now empowers those who have failed to make any effort in life, and expect the same as others who have toiled and sweat. Whatever happened to being content with something, rather than desiring the biggest and best of everything? Hard work took the first train out of town, and ambition decided to grab a bag of potato chips and lounge on the couch. When I was in the military the only thing I ever wanted for anybody who worked for me was personal and professional fulfillment. For some, the desire to be better and develop a sense of humility while doing it was all the motivation they needed to excel. For others, a helping hand still wasn't enough to push them to reach their dreams.
So what does all the babble I have put into words here really mean? I read a daily devotional the other day which was written by Chuck Swindoll, author and evangelist, among other things. I am leaving this last today with the hope that some will hold out to the very end and take in every word. With that, have a blessed thanksgiving, and enjoy...
A severe case of ingrown eyeballs strikes all of us every once in a while. In both dramatic and subtle ways, the stubborn enemy of our souls whispers sweet little nothings in our ears. He reminds us of how unappreciated and ill-treated we are . . . how important yet overlooked . . . how gifted yet ignored . . . how capable yet unrecognized . . . how bright yet eclipsed . . . how valuable yet unrewarded.
But the most damaging impact of self-pity is its ultimate end. A frown will replace your smile. A pungent criticism will replace a pleasant, "I understand." Suspicion and resentment will submerge you like a tidal wave, and you will soon discover that this sea of self-pity has brought with it urchins of doubt, despair . . . and even the desire to die.
An exaggeration? If you think so, sit with me awhile beneath the shade of a juniper tree located at 19 First Kings, the address of a prophet named Elijah.
Elijah had just won a great victory over Ahab and his Baal-worshiping pawns. In fact, God stamped His approval upon Elijah in such a way that all Israel knew he was God's mouthpiece. As a result, Jezebel, Ahab's spouse (he was her mouse), declared and predicted Elijah's death within twenty-four hours.
Now, the seasoned prophet had surely been criticized before. But this threat somehow found the chink in his armor.
So Elijah ran for his life. Then, beneath the tree, overwhelmed with self-pity, he said, "I've had enough . . . take away my life. . . . I've worked very hard for the Lord God of the heavens; but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you and torn down your altars and killed your prophets, and only I am left; and now they are trying to kill me, too" (1 Kings 19:4, 10 TLB).
Yet God didn't rebuke His man, nor strike him dead. He encouraged him to take a rest, enjoy a catered meal or two . . . and get his eyes off himself and his situation so that they might get back on the Lord. God even gave him a close friend, a fella named Elisha, with whom he might share his life and his load.
Feeling sorry for yourself today? Why not try God's remedy: Take a break, stop trying to work things out yourself. And take a long, loving look at your Savior in His Word . . . and then spend some time with a friend. You'll be amazed at the outcome.
Self-pity is the smog that pollutes and obscures the light of the Son.
I started out writing something completely different tonight, but things change. I felt the need to write about how thankful I am for my life, and for The incredible mercy God blesses me with each day.
I started a conversation today with a coworker which quickly got on the subject of all the things that are wrong at work. I truly believe God gives us hints in life to bring us back to His plan. Today I was given the hint to be grateful. I have an incredible job, and good people to work with. However, there are times I lose sight of the forest through the trees. I feel like I receive much, yet give very little in return. I pray I can truly appreciate this gift I was blessed with.
Thanksgiving is upon us, and I have to say that I have never really been excited about it. To me this day has always been an opportunity to eat more and do less. Today I am changing my skewed view of what Thanksgiving is about. Maybe this day was created out of a chance meeting between Native Americans and settlers. Nothing says it has to stay that way. This Thursday is going to be about truly appreciating God's blessings in my life. Some blessings are good, and some are what we perceive as bad. So here we go, the three things I am thankful for today.
1. I am thankful for my wife. She listens to my issues and puts out an incredible effort to give us an awesome house and incredible meals on the table...among other things.
2. I am thankful for people who challenge my morals, ethics, and my walk with God. I learn something new everyday through testing of character and perseverance to do the right thing.
3. I am thankful for a God who picks me up when I fall flat on my face at times.
Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Sometimes the one thing that brings entertainment may also be a curse! I was a little excited when management at work had flat screens installed, however, I should have seen the writing on the wall. Most all of them are now devoted to airing major news stations from around the nation. The television in front of my cubicle just happens to be tuned into MSNBC full time. I think I have seen enough national and world news to last a life time! I have had my fill of political rhetoric and commentary; not to mention the awful show anchors that head up each show segment. Each day we vote on which host will earn the "Captain Obvious" award, and I digress.
Unfortunately there are countless people creating news around the nation who make decisions out of carnal instinct and/or emotion. I found this piece today which struck my fancy and thought, "Why not share this with anyone who will listen?!" Here it is.......and Happy Wednesday!
Patience
There's a difference between patience and perseverance. Patience is having the right attitude for the moment. Perseverance is having patience over the long haul. We're often not good at either, but both are needed in the Christian life. Thankfully, God's mercy allows us to develop our patience and perseverance when trials ruffle our feathers—or threaten to shoot us down.
Life throws us curveballs, like losing your air conditioning, being delayed in heavy traffic, or waiting for hours for the doctor to see you. These events test our patience in the moment.
Perseverance, on the other hand, is patience on steroids. It's patience applied over time. It's waiting weeks, months, even years for the prodigal child or spouse to come home. It's putting your faith in God that He'll sustain you when your family member has a really bad illness. Perseverance is having faith that God will give you strength to care for your disabled child for their rest of their life.
King David knew all about life's tough trials. He was on the run for his life from his best friend's father, Saul—a man whose own life David had spared on several occasions. His perseverance was running on fumes. His faith was taxed to the max. He finally cried out, “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). That's a fair question. But look where David goes with his crisis of faith—he puts his trust in God's mercy (verse 5). He knows God will be compassionate and ultimately save him from his trial. In the New Testament, I like the way James puts it: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2, 3 NIV).
I think it is safe to say that most people we meet from day to day tend to live their lives by chasing the "comfort train." You know there is an awesome life full of ease and a warm fuzzy feeling everyday, you just have to dredge on for a bit longer and you'll get there.
I reveled in one of the small blessings God threw my way this afternoon. I was riding my motorcycle home and pulled into the parking spot just as it started to rain. Sometimes the bains of life obscure our view of the smallest of victories. People live their lives and have uneventful days, yet they consider that normal. However, on any given day when a few things go wrong they get depressed.
Every day brings small victories. I pray I take the time to see each of them.
Finally went and saw the movie Fury with a friend today. That was pretty incredible, an definitely realistic compared to accounts and information I have read about tank battles in WW II. A fitting movie for Veterans Day. Short post today because sometimes words can detract.
Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them, and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.
“And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
I'm not one to sit down and open a good novel when I have free time on my hands. I have neither the concentration nor the desire to live vicariously through "a good book". If I had to pick a favorite author though, I think I would pick C.S. Lewis.
Lewis lost his Mother at the age of 10 to cancer, and through determination earned his degree from Oxford University. He also fought in World War I where he was injured by shrapnel and soon after returned home to England. Lewis held many professionally significant positions both at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and eventually married in 1954. However, his marriage was short lived with the loss of his wife to cancer in 1957.
C.S. Lewis was an emphatic atheist for most of his life due to the death of his Mother, and the many other trials and unanswered prayers. Lewis eventually found grace again, however, he was not won back to Christianity overnight. Christian friends such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Hugo Dyson, Owen Barfield, and others, faithfully and patiently walked beside Lewis as they helped him work through life on his journey back to Christianity. Lewis soon saw that God seeks us out on a personal level and demands faith amidst our personal clutter. We have a personal God who calls us individually to make a personal response to the Gospel.
Trials abound in each of our lives. The form each one takes may vary, and seldom picks opportune times to make an appearance. There are never great answers to hard times, maybe because we seek answers here that can only be found from above. I truly believe God places people in all of our lives to work through "stuff". I guess that means no one is ever alone no matter how much they think they are.
James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
I woke up this morning appreciating the good sleep I was able to get last night, as I am sure Bri did as well. It was off to church and time to finish up a study on tithing we have been going through in our Sunday School class. I have gotten into so many heated discussions with friends over this topic. A lot of believers, and non-believers alike have been turned off to the subject because of the perception that church leadership pushes tithing too hard. Pastors get up in front of the church congregation every Sunday and harp on giving the most you can when the offering plate/basket comes by.
While walking the streets of DC a little while ago I had the opportunity to try and explain tithing to a good friend. The best way I can explain the concept of tithing in layman's terms is to first dispel two myths:
Myth #1, The fleecing of the flock: Pastors and clergymen do not collect up the offering and take their "cut" after the money has been collected. Yes, there are some dishonest people out there, but all I can say is that they will reap what they sow when it comes to judgment time. If a church is not holding regular business meetings and producing spending and earnings statements for the church body, ask for one!
Myth #2, The church sustains itself: How much further from the truth could this myth be?! Churches live off of the money we give them, and all the money collected in tithe and through donations goes to staffing costs, materials, community outreach programs, and different programs within the church. Expecting that things will just run on their own is far fetched!
The last and most important part to the issue of tithing is that God says I/we should do it. God gives me much, and in return I will pay it forward. Surprise someone or a group of someone's tomorrow and give your time, maybe money, maybe something else.
"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.[f]43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” -Mark 12:41-44
Whatever happened to just doing the right thing? I know there are times in all of our lives where cutting a corner here and there, and maybe learning through mistakes happens. Let's get real though! So many people in the world think that doing the wrong thing all the time, and then rationalizing the means to an end is okay.
Truth-there are people out there who have it harder than others. The truth of life is that God blesses each of us with what He feels will develop us the most. I may never be a millionaire, and I have also lived through some down and out times with my family as a child, but gosh darn if I didn't learn to appreciate what was given to me through everyone of those experiences! I work in the midst of individuals who are actively enabled in their lives to be lazy. Various levels of government don't want to see their citizens living on the streets, and in turn, work very hard to prevent it where they can. However, through it's very actions the system has foreshadowed a life for each of these families and individuals where hard work and good morals need not exist.
Where did our moral compass get thrown in the wrong direction? People are given a free society in which to make good choices, not just choices. The epic failure of parents to properly raise their children is a significant cause of the degradation of society. Many parents live under the belief in which the government, namely the public education system, will raise their children and teach them valuable life lessons to function as a productive member of society. I don't know how more wrong they could be! The government merely provides supplementation to that in which we vest in each other.
I could go on and write paragraphs about this, but I will not. I have neither the literary know-how to embrace such an argument with a race of people who revels in their own immoral dichotomy of choice. I know so many people out there shun the existence of God, but I will not. I cannot begin to explain the shear moral and ethical awareness Christianity has given me. Are there people out there who have defiled the faith and abused it's teachings, YES! Hopefully this will give all of you even more fire in your hearts to seek the truth on your own. I make mistakes everyday, and God tells me in the bible that I will until the day I lay my head down for the last time. Everyday I wake up with the opportunity to follow the narrow path on a walk God has laid out for me. There will be dips and rises in the path, however, each one is an opportunity for me to learn and grow.
My highlight of the day...
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with us … we are in charge of our attitude.”
One of the most difficult things in life is to admit you stepped in dog poo. Boy Howdy! You're sitting in a confined space with a few of your coworkers, or maybe some friends-then it happens, that one nose goes up in the air and the all too often question follows right after, "What is that smell? Did someone step in something?" At this point everyone is taking a look at their shoes hoping they aren't "that guy". A lot of people have been caught up in the dog poo trick bag, forced to take the walk of shame with your shoe in hand. I've been there my friend, but more importantly, I remember how I felt after it happened.
There are moments which carry nostalgic laughter, and are locked in our memories well into old age. This week was a challenging affair, solving one conundrum and rolling right into another. Most times we have isolating feelings because we are hard on ourselves, or allow others to intern pass harsh judgement. The reality is the very same issues which we have turned into breaking news, or as big as the next main event at a UFC fight, is not what it seems. Storms come and go, however, not everything we go through in life is thunder and lightning. Sometimes the only thing bearing down on us, is ourselves. The bustling lives we often lead makes it hard to step outside the shelter we have created, and often blocks the awesome views around our very existence. My moment of clarity came in the form of an unexpected thank you. So here's to getting over those mole hills in life, and may God bless everyone on the eve of another incredible weekend.
Thoughts of the week...
Psalms 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
“There was a very cautious man Who never laughed or played He never risked, he never tried, He never sang or prayed. And when he on day passed away, His insurance was denied, For since he never really lived, They claimed he never really died."
Today's forecast for the Washington, D.C. area, severe thunderstorms! I thought nothing of the forecast when I heard it yesterday, but apparently I was quickly reminded on my way home from work. I drove out of DC on my motorcycle and across the Potomac River. On the horizon I saw nothing but trouble in the form of a storm cell covering the sky. There were several lightning strikes even before I came off of the bridge. A few miles down the interstate I came face to face with a wall of grey draped over the asphalt surface in front of me. All I could think of was the weather report my wife had rattled off yesterday, "severe thunderstorms." I aimed for the closest off ramp and braced for the soaking I was about to receive. In less then a minute I was completely soaked from head to toe. You would have thought I had been baptized. I ducked inside a parking garage close by and took stock of the poor commuting choice I had made.
When I had set out from the city to head home I had high hopes of avoiding the rain-hope is the key word in that thought. Hope is an incredible driving force in many aspects of life. I think a lot of people look for hope in places where none exists; often within the negative vices which define their lives. I could go on to write an eloquent post regarding hope, however, someone already did it for me. God provided safety today inspite of my obvious ignorance. My hope will always be in Him. Cheers....
Romans 8
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
There are times I sit down in front of my tablet and think, "I want to write something, but what?" I have found that taking the time to sit back and just live life has been more enjoyable than trying to necessarily translate it into literary terms for a blog. I woke up this morning not being able to sleep and I knew what to write about though. I truly believe God places "stuff" on our minds to share, know, meditate over, act on, etc. I believe the message he embraced me with is definitely worth sharing.
I often find math equations boring, however, there are those that I am willing to pay attention to more so than others. Take for instance the sleep equation, a very important one: time + bed= good stuff, or something like that. Sleep is pretty important, not only for personal health aspects, but it just gives us that time to reset. One of the things I found that the world around us can wear down quite often is our vigilance. Vigilance is soemtimes defined as, watchfulness. What is it that needs watching though? Ourselves! All we have to do is take a look around at the crazy and emotionally driven world we all live in to realize this is not what God intended for any of us. Just because it is easier to let our emotions and thoughtless decisions rule the moment, does not mean that is what should happen. Although I can personally attest to being guilty of it.
It takes extra work to be vigilant-make the extra effort to watch the language coming out of our mouths, or make morally and ethically sound decisions. There are so many opportunities to slip out there, and none of us are perfect. The extra effort that's needed to work on myself and the things around me is worth it. Each one of us is worth the effort.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I felt like I faced one giant after another, and I knew God was right there telling me, "It's okay, I've got this." Sometimes listening is more beneficial than hearing our own noise... In keeping with that thought, I included the article below. Regardless of the outcome, I am thankful God is there for me...
Thank God for His Continued Presence and Power in Your Life
When we come to Christ, it is not the end but the beginning of a whole new life! He is with us, and He wants to help us follow Him and His Word.
In ourselves we do not have the strength that we need to live the way God wants us to live. But when we turn to Him, we discover that “it is God who works in [us] to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13, NIV). Jesus promised His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18, 20, NIV).
In many countries a special day is set aside each year for thanksgiving. But for the Christian every day can be a day of thanksgiving, as we are “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20, NIV).
Do you know the joy of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ? If you’ll turn to God, He can take away your bitterness and give you the spirit of true thankfulness.
Have you ever been caught up in a situation where the scene played out employing thoughts and actions children would employ? You know what I'm talking about. I found myself in that mind set this afternoon at work.
I got into work and found myself in a paperwork war zone. White sheets of awfulness with words all over them had taken over my workspace. After taming the savage papers and corralling them into their respective sorting bins, I figured I would take my late morning stretch around the office, but I soon found myself putting out one fire after another for the rest of the day. My counterpart who is usually there to split the workload with me abandoned ship early in the day so she could do some work out of the office. I immediately found myself frustrated and indifferent with how the day was unfolding. On one hand I was pretty jealous that my coworker left the office on her own accord, but I also felt how petty my jealousy and frustration was. The administrative work I was knocking out wasn't exactly challenging. I remembered a post I saw yesterday which embodied the exact issue I faced today;
The Daily Bible Verse - theDailyBibleVerse.org
1 Samuel 16:11 (NIV) - So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
What would have run through the mind of the young shepherd boy David when he heard that the prophet Samuel wanted to see him? As David is brought to the prophet, Samuel takes a flask of oil and anoints David in front of his brothers, and David experiences God’s Spirit in a unique way from that moment forward. Don’t let the feeling of being out in the sheep pastures discourage you; just be faithful and trust that God knows where you are and that He has an appointed time to call you forward.
Back in 2010 I was preparing to host a small symposium. I found myself with very limited help, and with much work to be done. The symposium went very well, and as I stood in the meeting hall stacking chairs, my very experienced and seasoned boss strolled in. He looked around for a little bit and then came over and stood within feet of me. He looked at me and made some small talk, which he rarely ever did. It was on the same caliber of making small talk with General George Washington if he were to roll by while taking a random stroll around camp. He stopped for a second and said, "You will have your moment in the sun. I want everyone to know the effort you put in around here." True to his word they presented me with a very coveted award about a month later. The part that made the hard work and effort worthwhile were all the moments I kept my mouth closed and just worked.
Patience and humility are not common human traits, however, they are very common if you place your time, effort, meditation, and hard work with God. Your time will come before you know it, but for now make the most out of the journey.
Summer weather is giving way to Fall in the form of cool mornings and falling leaves. Some of the smaller trees have already kicked their leaves off early like a selfish kid on a jungle gym. The day started off in church. I knew it was going to be a good day after I watched our Pastor share a situation he has been dealing with over the last few days. He was blessed by The Lord and made a Grandfather this weekend, however, the his new grandson came out lifeless due to a complication during birth. I watched him fight through tears and emotions the size of mountains in order to share this story. His grandson was resuscitated and was still in the NICU. The pastor cut the service short after a very short message. Many people think of Pastors as these individuals who are rock solid and live uncomplicated lives because they are preaching the word of God. This is why I thought it was humbling today to hear the pastor share the words of God from the perspective of a loving grandfather blessed with a miracle.
The Afternoon...
We finished out our weekend with one last large barbecue. There was a meeting of coworkers, families and friends to officially meet for nothing. Yup, that is right! We usually don't have a reason to hang out other than getting that inkling that too much time has passed without a meeting of the minds.
I would like to say we shared thrilling words on intellectual topics and pressing issues in the world, however, that would be completely false. Sometimes it's not really the conversation that matters between people. The point is to merely say, "I cared enough about us to make the effort to be here." So there we were, 7 guys standing in a circle laughing over life. Funny how that happens when groups of men get together. Give it enough time and we naturally form in small circles talking about whatever will spur on a conversation with the other circle participants. Our time was fleeting though, and One by one we eventually faded away and headed home.
I thought tonight of how things would be different if our group never met up outside of work. What if we never spoke about our kids, our trials and victories, and the road ahead of us? What if all we did was exchange the typical "American", and often empty question of "How are you?" as we passed each other in the hall? I'm thankful for these opportunities to gain a different view of those around me. Even though I may not maintain these relationships forever, who knows how boring my life might have been without them? The highlights of my day...
Finding myself standing in a circle
Thankful that God gives me different perspectives on life
Sometimes it is hard to find calm in our lives while this crazy world surrounds us. Today illustrated this picture for me, and also showed me how easily our emotions make choices for us. This is a very short post, but I feel pretty strongly about the message. I had a situation to deal with today where the opportunity presented itself to take the low road. While I contemplated possible courses of action, all I thought of was to cause the most pain and inflict the most personal damage I possibly could with my words and actions. Horrible thoughts, I know! I am not a perfect Christian, and I bet no one else in the world is either. I took a little bit of time and let cool heads prevail. I am an ignorant individual, which is why I look to God for direction with situations like this. For maintaining restraint I was blessed with an apology and a calm end to my day. Today's lesson...
1. Getting a pound of flesh comes at too hgh a cost. Forgiveness is always free...
I love small changes in life that liven things up a bit. Although that may not be the best for everybody, I think it is good for me. One of the most significant changes is having to work hand in hand with some people I was not a big fan of in the past. This current assignment I am on has tested me in ways I couldn't have foreseen. A good example of all this; Mom and Dad tell you that you should try a new food because you might like it, and we all told our parents "no" at one time or another.
One of the hardest things as an adult is to admit there are points in life to improve upon, learn, or develop from. I am having to invest my time in people whom I used to think were a waste of skin. I won't hesitate to admit I got this one wrong in the past. God pushes all of us to be our best, no matter what that might look like. A journey is always worth the trip regardless of the outcome if God is the one guiding you along the path.
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
When I kick this week off I know it will be crazy awesome! I am going to make incredible things happen because I deserve the world! Okay, I'm not that chipper on a Monday. From time to time I even get a case of the "Mondays". My coworkers who carpool with me typically expect the same thing out of me on the way to and from work, dead asleep in the back seat. Why shouldn't I strive for such an incredible beginning to my day?
An article I read yesterday addressed a growing trend in the United States, prosperity theology. I want to be positive and be the best I can be, however, I want to become that person because I followed God through the good and the bad. Prosperity theology is basically a motivational and self help form of Christianity. As if the world didn't have a skewed view of Chrisitians already with pastors claiming to predict the end of the world, and churches using their twisted interptation of faith and scripture to protest at the funerals of our fallen military heroes.
Expecting that God will take you through green pastures and fields of lollipops and unicorns the rest of your life is absurd. On the other foot we have the American dream mixed into the doctrine of prosperity theology. The American dream didn't involve owning the latest luxury car, and it sure as heck didn't require our dreams of having to live in a suburbia mini-mansion. Our dreams once encompassed ideals like free will, raising children ourselves in a stable society to nurture the future generations. The dream held beautiful landscapes and time enjoying the sunset which everyone toiled through the day to enjoy. Life brings the good, the bad and the ugly on a regular basis. I tend to lean on the grace God has given me to make it through, as opposed to praying for only good to happen in my life. It took a while to embrace the harsh ascent of the mountains in order to appreciate the view on the other side. Today's highlight, the article I read... It's a good read whether you are Christian or not.
Dr. Mohler- President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The evangelical world, joined by no shortage of secular observers, has been abuzz about the latest soundbite of note from the Pastors Osteen — this time offered by Victoria Osteen as her husband Joel beamed in the background. It is a hard video to watch.
In her message, Victoria Osteen tells their massive congregation to realize that their devotion to God is not really about God, but about themselves. “I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God–I mean, that’s one way to look at it–we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we are happy. . . . That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy. . . .”
She continued: “So, I want you to know this morning — Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. . . . When you come to church, when you worship him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”
As you might predict, the congregation responded with a loud “Amen.”
America deserves the Osteens. The consumer culture, the cult of the therapeutic, the marketing impulse, and the sheer superficiality of American cultural Christianity probably made the Osteens inevitable. The Osteens are phenomenally successful because they are the exaggerated fulfillment of the self-help movement and the cult of celebrity rolled into one massive mega-church media empire. And, to cap it all off, they give Americans what Americans crave — reassurance delivered with a smile.
Judged in theological terms, the Osteen message is the latest and slickest version of Prosperity Theology. That American heresy has now spread throughout much of the world, but it began in the context of American Pentecostalism in the early twentieth century. Prosperity theology, promising that God rewards faith with health and wealth, first appealed to those described as “the dispossessed” — the very poor. Now, its updated version appeals to the aspirational class of the suburbs. Whereas the early devotees of Prosperity Theology prayed for a roof over their heads that did not leak, the devotees of prosperity theology in the Age of Osteen pray for ever bigger houses. The story of how the Osteens exercised faith for a big house comes early in Joel Osteen’s best-seller,Your Best Life Now.
According to Osteen, God wants to pour out his “immeasurable favor” on his human creatures, and this requires a fundamental re-ordering of our thinking. “To experience this immeasurable favor,” Osteen writes, “you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God’s blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart before you can receive it. In other words, you must make increase in your own thinking, then God will bring those things to pass.”
There is nothing really new in this message. Anyone familiar with the New Thought movement and later books such as Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich will see a persistent theme. The important issue is this — Prosperity Theology is a false Gospel. The problem with Prosperity Theology is not that it promises too much, but that it aims for so little. What God promises us in Christ is far above anything that can be measured in earthly wealth — and believers are not promised earthly wealth nor the gift of health.
But to talk of the promises of God to believers is actually to jump outside the Osteen audience. The Osteen message does not differentiate between believers and unbelievers — certainly not in terms of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their sermons, writings, and media appearances, the Osteens insist that God is well-disposed to all people and wills that all flourish, but there is virtually no mention of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No reference to sin as the fundamental issue. No explanation of atonement and resurrection as God’s saving acts; no clarity of any sort on the need for faith in Christ and repentance of sin.
Instead, they focus on happiness and God’s “immeasurable favor” to be poured out on all people, if they will only correct their thinking.
As a thought exercise, let’s just limit the consideration to those people who have identified as Christians throughout the centuries. Does the Osteen message come close to their experience? Would it even make sense?
Just consider the fact that most Christians throughout the history of the church have been poor, and often desperately poor. They were not hoping to move into a suburban mini-mansion, they hoped to be able to feed their children one more day. That picture is still true for millions upon millions of Christians around the world today.
And that is just the start of it. What about all those who are even now suffering persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? What about the loved ones of the martyrs in Mosul? What about the Christians forced out of their homes and threatened with genocide? What about the children of Christians slain in Iraq and Syria just in recent weeks, or those martyred by Boko Haram in Africa? How does Prosperity Theology work for them? Can anyone look them in the eye and say that God’s plan for believers in this life is to know Your Best Life Now?
In her recent work on Prosperity Theology, historian Kate Bowler traces the shift from what she calls the “hard prosperity” message of the early Pentecostals to the “soft prosperity” message of modern preachers like Joel Osteen. As Bowler explains, the new “softer” version of the prosperity message has “become the foremost Christian theology of modern living.”
Well, maybe. Prosperity Theology certainly sells books and draws crowds in the United States, but what does it possibly say to a grieving Christian wife and mother in Iraq? How can it possibly be squared with the actual message of the New Testament? How can any sinner be saved, without a clear presentation of sin, redemption, the cross, the empty tomb, and the call to faith and repentance? Prosperity Theology fails every test, and fails every test miserably. It is a false gospel, and one that must be repudiated, not merely reformatted.
Victoria Osteen’s comments fit naturally within the worldview and message she and her husband have carefully cultivated. The divine-human relationship is just turned upside down, and God’s greatest desire is said to be our happiness. But what is happiness? It is a word that cannot bear much weight. As writers from C. S. Lewis to the Apostle Paul have made clear, happiness is no substitute for joy. Happiness, in the smiling version assured in the Age of Osteen, doesn’t last, cannot satisfy, and often is not even real.
Furthermore, God’s pleasure in his human creatures centers in his desire and will that they come to faith in Jesus Christ and be saved. The great dividing line in humanity is not between the rich and the poor, the sick and the well, or even the happy and the unhappy. The great divide is between those who, in Christ, have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s glorious light.
Mere happiness cannot bear the weight of the Gospel. The message of the real Gospel is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That is a message that can be preached with a straight face, a courageous spirit, and an urgent heart in Munich, in Miami, or in Mosul.
If our message cannot be preached with credibility in Mosul, it should not be preached in Houston. That is the Osteen Predicament.
There are many sights in which God has stirred much emotion in my soul, however, very few are as humbling as the reconciliation and eventual memorialization of war. To cap off an awesome weekend, we visited the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. I am a big statistics and facts person when it comes to history. The battle of Gettysburg is filled with lots of large numbers. The Army of the Potomac (Union) alone had over 35,000 soldiers present at one point or another during the course of the 3 day confrontation. Fighting elbow to elbow was an under statement at some locations on the battlefield. Although the battle was spread out over an approximate 10 mile radius, at time there were soldiers laying next to each other trying to frantically reload their black powder rifles.
I found this to be such a stark contrast to what the people of that town were typically use to. Gettysburg wasn't a tiny piece of real estate, but it wasn't like Baltimore or any other large city either. Such great loss brought to such a quiet town through choices made by men. General Robert E. Lee made it seem as if the area near Gettysburg was predestined to be the next showdown between the Union and the Confederacy, however, it was his personal strategic choice which brought these events to fortuitously play out. We each make choices during good and bad times in our lives. The concept of personal choice brought forth the memory of a line I heard on the radio two days ago. Hopefully I never forget it this week, and in weeks to come.
"We practice in the dark, what we learn in the light."
There are times in life which pose overwhelming challenges. Notice I did not mention the word, impossible. The hard times can seem long and arduous when we are in the moment. Think of the last time there were too many adult beverages consumed. You swore you would never again go through that experience while you were praying to the "porcelain god". As I am sure most people have experienced, there was most definitely a repeat. But this post isn't about doing the right thing, it's about the fact that you made it through to the other side of the tunnel. I know I have ran through some awful experiences where I thought, "This sucks!" I had no vision of what the "end in sight" would even look like when I was in the midst of the storm.
Last year I found a bit of advice from an instructor at a course I was attending. He opened the class by asking how we were doing. Knowing that we were at the most difficult time during our training , he made the remark that, "Life probably sucks right now. The bad news is that it's probably only going to get worse." He then presented us with a question I still remember, "How do you eat an elephant?" I thought this guy had been drinking his own punch for too long (aka, he is crazy). The truth is, this instructor found a gem in the sometimes hard surface of life. Just remember how to deal with that problem which seems as big as an elephant...
The following story will either make me out to be less than intelligent, or it will be thought provoking to the eye of the beholder. Let's hope I land somewhere in the middle and go from there.
Today I decided to brave the heat and humidity of the late afternoon here in northern Virginia, and barbecue. Okay, it was not the significant undertaking that I make it out to be. Whenever I grill meat I tend to pull a rookie move. A standing rule of those familiar with the way of the grill; when cooking meat over an open flame, it is turned only once. You cook one side for a little bit, then the meat is flipped to cook the rest of the way.
I tend to display some serious ADHD while grilling, because I cannot just leave the meat alone. If you are eating a piece of meat I prepared, you better bet that puppy got flipped at least 10 times, if not more. It's like I get bored, or impatient, or both when it comes to waiting. The grill, or "Man Grill" as I like to refer to it, definitely teaches me a lesson regardless of its rudimentary job. My highlight from today...
1. Patience...
"Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
[Ecclesiastes 7:8] - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-patience.html#sthash.ZF9WlRb5.dpuf
